Reviews (35)

Good listing
Pretty good album it was one of the best of it's kind, ranking up there with 'Less that Jake' and 'Goldfinger'. Although there are some songs that are repetitive (e.g. Suburban Homesick Blues and Not Again) has some really good songs (e.g. Box and the Bear (Song)). This is not the best ska album but it is Mustard Plugs best. The use of the trumpets and trombones was quite good in Evil doers beware, combined with the vocal making it good listing. It could have be better if they had a couple more punk songs but other than that there is nothing that Mustard plug could have changed. This CD got boring after awhile but I still like it. I recommend this CD to any one who likes Ska or feels that they want something different.

great third wave ska
This album is way better than their last one, Big Daddy Multitude. Mustard Plug plays catchy and tight third wave ska/punk, with the emphasis on the ska. The only thing keeping this cd from five stars is its really short length (only twelve songs), and the fact that it kind of gets boring after you listen to it for a couple of weeks..

These guys are fun
Back home in Germany i heard a little bit about them. Since I'm a big skacore fan and I saw that they're from Michigan I looked out for a concert and finally went their. It was one of the funnest shows ever. I bought the CD and I love it. Beersong is my absolute favorite song. I you like Punk or anything like it buy this CD. Check also Catch 22 out.

One of the Best Ska Cd's I Have Ever Graced
This is simply one of the best ska Cd's my Cd player has ever had the grace of spinning. Tight horns, good ska guitar, and some of the best horn lines ever, VERY skankable. And this is coming from Jersey, liek the scene of the post-3rd wave ska scene

damn good cd
i give mad props to mustard plug. its nice to see a local ska band get out and spred their music around all over the place since ska isnt that big. any who, some good songs are box, you , miss michigan, beer,mendoza theres no bad song. theres something that makes me want to dance everytime i hear their music. every one shoud check them out when ever they come to you area. they put on one hell of a show. i see them when ever i get the chance. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Truth & Soul is the most focused, most frenetic, and most political album in Fishbone's small but important catalog of ska/metal/funk/punk. They still party on this record (note "Bonin' in the Boneyard") but they also offer some serious doses of reality, and some fierce insight about growing up black in America.Much of the material (including "Slow Bus Movin'," "Ghetto Soundwave," and the potent, hopeful "One Day") was recorded on the 1988 birthdates of Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln. Madcap vocalist Angelo Moore is in good form on Truth, but guitarist Kendall Jones often threatens to steal the show, particularly on the amped-up cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead." --Michael Ruby ... Read more

Reviews (23)

One of my ultimate "desert island discs"
I purchased "Truth and Soul" in 1988, after being a Fishbone fan for about a year (thanks to the previous "In Your Face"). While they've made some other great albums, this one is definitely the best in their catalog. The songs are consistently well-crafted, and even though they dip into cliches now and then (such as on "Change," the album's only weak cut), they make up for it with stunning musicianship and great socio-political commentary. Whether it's ska ("Ma and Pa"), funk ("One Day"), thrash ("Subliminal Fascism"), old-school funk covers (their jaw-dropping cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead"), Fishbone has all the musical styles covered, and does them all very well indeed. Unfortunately, they never made another album as good as this one, and the fact that their original lineup has dwindled down to just a few core members does not bode well for their future, IMHO. Get this disc to find out what Fishbone was like at the top of their form. Also recommended: "In Your Face" and "The Reality of my Surroundings."

The Bone throws down the gauntlet
This is one of my all-time favorite albums and the first Fishbone Album I ever bought back in 1988, mainly because of the video Freddie's Dead which I saw on BET (when it still showed videos that mattered ) on Donnie Simpson's show back in the day I bought the album a few days later and could believe what i had heard ska, punk,rock, funk, soul reggae-funk trash this album is about 45 minutes long and every song on this album is a winner.

1. freddies dead- a heavy funk/rock number on the mayfield classic 10/10
2. Ma and -classic ska song about divorce 9/10
3.Question of life horn- driven funk 8/10
4. Pouring Rain - A beautful Reaggae/rock number 10/10
5.Deep Inside - staright up Punk number one of my favorite fishbone songs 10/10
6. Mighty Long Way a classic rock number 8/10
7. Bonin in the Boneyard - what can you say straight up fishbone funk about 10/10
8. One Day the -only weak song on a classic album 7/10
9. sublimmal Facsim - another punk-like song that works well 9/10
10.Slow Bus moving (howard beach) -a cowpunk song about busing, Howard Beach and Race 10/10
11.Ghetto Soundwave- a funk-rock ditty about inner city living conditons that is great without being preachy 9/10
12. Change- probaly the best song the Bone ever wrote they are not known for their ballads but this is one song of hope after being taken to every emotion from desire, anger, cyncism there's hope in this beautful acosutic number. 10/10

I don't know why this album was not a hit it has influneced so many musicans and unlike bands and singers today who can't sing or play their instruments these brothers from south central can phunk it up and rock and roll ya get this album now!!!!!

Okay, not Fishbone's best
It is definately not my favorite fishbone cd. It reflects on its time of the 80's which is fine, but some songs has a 'cheesy' feel to them...hence the 80's. The self titled album, and in your face is much better than this. But it still is fishbone...AND fishbone has always been "red hot"!!!!!!

Truth And Soul..
This was my first full-length LP purchase by these gents about 15 years ago and while my personal favorite from their vast catalog remains "The Reality Of My Surroundings" from '91, this near-perfect record is a very close second place. "Slow Bus Movin'", "Ghetto Soundwave", "Pouring Rain" and "Sublimal Facism" are my favorites because they demonstrate how broad and wide ranging this band's talents are. This is probably the most commercial the guys have ever sounded and remains a fan favorite. Personally, I like it when they overreach just a little and wind up with something entirely new, which they manage to do everytime. Fishbone was way ahead of their time and are worth digging deep into for some serious music, fun and thought provoking lyrics. While their sonic assault may frighten some newbies, after a while you'll be won over and not only want Fishbone, you'll NEED Fishbone.

Their best album from this period.
The ska influence that appeared on previous albums is largely absent. The punk (if you really want to call it that) is used sparingly ("Deep Inside", "Subliminal Fascism"), as a breather to the mostly serious theme of the album. Fishbone is known for dipping its toes into a wide variety of musical influences, but by focusing on metal-tinged funk, splashed with a horn section, this album allows them to strech out in only a couple of genres and create an album that's enjoyable from start to finish. There isn't a bad cut on the album.

In addition to focusing their music, the band seems to have taken especially good care to present an appealing theme for the album. Beginning with a lament from the past (a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Freddie's Dead"), the message of the album kicks in with a sincere effort to try to figure a way out of the social quandry ("Ma and Pa", "Questions of Life", "Pouring Rain"). From there, the album takes the listener through a range of emotions on a sudden pace that one might find in a stage show -- manic energy ("Deep Inside"), exuberance ("Mighty Long Way", "Bonin' in the Boneyard"), self-deprecation ("One Day"), and later on ending with two sincere songs that would have looked out of place in their previous albums ("Ghetto Soundwave", "Change").

The last song on the album, "Change", is an acoustic ballad that does a good job of bookending the album. If the first song is a eulogy, then the last song is the sermon that follows the eulogy, giving hope for the ones still living. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

God bless those skandalous bastards
I've been a big fan of Meph ever since i saw them rock a piddly little club in Providence RI back in 95. This, the first album, is a damn fine record. In fact, in many Ska albums today, there are quite a few good songs, but nothing that really holds the whole CD together, this CD has it all, from the uproariously funny Bummble bee tuna song to the classic Doomsday. That five Iron Frenzy fol can stick it in his pie hole, because this CD beats out just about anything out there. Don't let their being a Satanic Ska band pull the wool over your eyes. Their message is pure, upbeat fun. After all, isn't that what ska is all about?

The best can hardly describe it
Mephiskapheles was my first real taste of Ska, and ever since I've been hooked. I don't know whats wrong with the Five Iron Frenzy people, but God Bless Satan is my favorite cd. Besides Mephiskapheles is the only Satanic Ska band around, how great is that! I'm thrilled to get their latest album, Might-Ay White-Ay.

Mephiskapheles - God Bless Satan Review
There are very few ska CDs with which I go back to over and over and over. This is the best damn ska CD, period. All of the songs are original and unique in their own way. They mix punk, carribean, jazz, ska, etc. The horn players are all amazing, some of the best the ska scene has to offer. The guitarist, drummer, and bassist are all equally as good. If your not sure if you want to try this band because they are "satanic", dont be fooled. The satanism is a gimmick, to attract people (and I daresay it worked!). I am a christian, and if this band was truly satanic I would not give them a listen ever again...but theyre not! So do yourself a favor, and buy this CD. G.B.S. is by the far the best the ska scene has to offer.

Saba Saba Saba Oi Oi Oi !
I'm actually not really a ska fan. At all. But--this album kicks the kan to kalamazoo. "Saba" and, yes, that fabled "Bumblebee Tuna," make for some pretty swanky driving tunes. I particularly enjoy playing them around people with sticks up there unmentionables, because it's good therapy for them.

bumble bee tuna
It is very creative and unique. It is hard hitting yet bearly punkish. Great for the bar I work in. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The astonishingly and presumably deliberately inept artwork of this debut from Californian skate punks OPM helps create a carefully contrived image of a bunch of lads intent on loafing about, doing as little as possible. The threesome's modus operandi--which involves sun, sex, tattoos, getting stoned, and traveling the streets on four small wheels--is cemented by the opening tracks "Stash Up" (a paean to smoking grass and not giving a flying one for anything) and "Heaven Is a Halfpipe" (a surprisingly catchy sing-along about the joys of skateboarding). Menace to Sobriety's boisterous, good-time feel sprawls across its 15 tracks like a teenager on a particularly comfortable sofa, its bleach-top college-rock roots (Blink 182, Sugar Ray) regularly spiced up by Latino piano and horns, ska rhythms, hip-hop textures, and noisy raps. --Mike Pattenden ... Read more

Reviews (36)

WORTH BUYING IF YOU LOVE THE SINGLE OR TRENDY PUNK ROCK
I first heard OPM's song "Heaven Is A Halfpipe"2 weeks ago and i just bought the CD. Its got some cool tracks, they're hip catchy and trendy-reminds me of the reel big fish album"turn the radio off", but not as nerdy. These guys are cool to listen to in the car with your buddies, or to put on when skating or something. This album is NOT special, this type of record has been put out before by other bands, but it's still catchy, and with a skit where a dude is smashing a coke machine, and screaming profanity it's worth 15 bucks. So why not? Sing along to the mindless lyrics, have a good time-in ten years this stuff will seem mindless to you too...

MTS Guide
Stash up-This is the song where they use up all their foul language.

Interlude:Punanny-If you listen to Moby's Play album,you will hear stuff like this.

Heaven is a halfpipe-This song is a bit weird.It goes from Thomas the tank engine style music into hard rock.

El captain-This has got a good beat,and is SOOOOOOOOOOOO idealistic to play at a rave.

Undercover freak-A bit of a dirty song,but I don't care because it is a decent song.

Brighter side-This song is a bit like the stuff we get here in England.

Better daze-This makes up for all the swearing they haven't used in the past few songs.

Trucha-There they go again,singing in a foreign language,but still saying Mutha(BLEEP)er.

Dealerman-This sounds like longview,by Greenday.If you don't know what it sounds like,look up Dookie on this web page.

Reality check-Techno rock has never been ceased by anyone from me liking it.

Interlude:Rage against the coke machine-This is so funny.Those of you who haven't laughed at it,get real!

Under-This jam is really revealling their reggae side.

Interlude:15 minutes-Good beat,good rhythm.The only bad thing about this is it's a bit hyper.

Fish out of water-If you feel bad about going back to school or work,this is the song to sooth your feelings.

Sound system-Thunka,baby!

kinda crappy
this cd is probably the worst cd of its genre i hated it. it sounded like the were tryin to hard to be original and have no talent

Absolutely Amazing
I heard Heaven Is A Halfpipe on the radio one night and I thought it was pretty good. After that I heard a few more of OPM song's on the radio including Stash Up and El Capitan so I thought about buying their album. And I am extremly happy I did!
I'll do a track-by-track review

1.Stash Up
A song about smoking weed and not giving a f**k about anybody.Nice guitar riff with ska/punk feel but hearing "I don't give a F**k" gets tired.Good song if your p***sed off with someone 8/10 2:58

2.Interlude-Punnany
A really weird electronica song(if you listen to the rest of the album then you'll you will think it's weird) but still fun 7.5/10 0:33

3.Heaven Is A Halfpipe
The essential anthem, perfect for any party and one of the catchiest songs ever. A mixture of hip-hop and alternative that works out very well 11/10 4:18

4.El Capitan
Another very catchy song that's good for a party.Not good,not bad. 7.5/10 3:22

5.Undercover Freak
A okay song with a very strong reggae feel.Not all that good 6/10 3:47

6.Brighter Side
A very pop/rocky song that will cheer up when your down and out
9/10 3:30

7.Better Daze
One of the best song on the album talking about money being the energy source for everything and making the world go around. Sounds alot Everlast's "What It's Like" except better
11/10 3:58

8.Trucha
Another very weird song sung in Spanish or something like that(i don't know). This song also has a very strong reggae feel.Okay not great
6/10 4:01

9.Dealerman
A pretty good song ruled by a guitar talking about a guy who isn't appreciated by anyone but gets along with his dealerman well.A good song to listen to if you feel the world hates you
8/10 3:40

10.Reality Check
A very good song with a very nice r&b/hip-hop feel that would be good for a pool party
10/10 3:57

11.Interlude-Rage Against The Coke Machine
One of the funniest things i've ever heard, it's a little skit about a guy trying to get a Coke but failing to so he ends up smashing the living s**t out of the vending machine.if you listen to this and don't laugh, you must be dead!! 11/10 1:04

12.Unda
An very catchy okay song with ska/punk feel to it.Not bad, not bad at all 7.5/10 2:50

13.Interlude-15 Minutes
One of the most fast-paced song i've ever heard and more addictive than herion, this is pretty good
9/10 0:45

14.Fish Out Of Water
A good song to listen to if you don't want to got to work/school.Extremly catchy with pop feel to it 8.5/10 3:32

15.Sound System
A catchy song which is 50/50 with me
6/10 3:46

My Top 5
Better Daze 11/10
Rage Against The Coke Machine 11/10
Heaven Is A Halfpipe 11/10
Reality Check 10/10
Brighter Side 9/10

An extraordinarly good album, this is one of the best albums ever made and the essential album for a party of any kind

Creative Mix of Styles
Wonderful CD from start to finish. Starting with "Stash Up" you have an average rock song; go to songs like "Trucha" and "Unda" and you have something new. Trucha is a song with a latin feel but then kicks in with great hip-hop style lyrics. Then with "Unda" you get a cool ska feel. Then take 360 degrees back and listen to "Better Daze" and you have a song resembling that of Everlast. Even though it is a CD mixed with styles, they all seem to flow with each other and all have well written lyrics. A great CD that I would recommend to fans of rock, hip-hop, or punk; all will probably find this to their liking. ... Read more

Reviews (254)

MEST KICKS!
This CD is KICKIN! If you've listened to any of their other cds, this would come as no surprise to you.. MEST ROCKS! They have their own twist on punk rawk and this CD holds no exception. I can't get enough of it!! They're unlike anyone else out there and I highly suggest this album! It's music that makes you bounce off the walls and it just puts you in a good mood. I haven't heard anyone that's listened to them ever say one negative thing about them, even in the least bit! So I think you should go out and buy this CD right now! Forget about N'sync, Britney or any of the latest pop artists.. get in touch with your punked-out self and listen to some awesome music! You won't regret it, I promise!! The first time I heard MEST was at a Good Charlotte concert.. they came on, played 30 seconds of their first song and that was it.. I WAS IN LOVE! As soon as they finished, I went straight over and bought Destination Unknown. The CD never leaves my CD player. Show some love for the punk rawk scene and pick up the album!!

Mest - A pop punky band just having fun!
Mest is a Chicago-based fun loving pop punk rock band with two great CDs. Destination Unknown, their new CD, had many fans concerned. Could it be as spirited and original as Wasting Time? Destination Unknown proved itself to be a CD with fun yet moving lyrics put together with melodic and upbeat music. Songs like Cadillac make you want to dance, and songs like Reason and Mother's Prayer let you sit back and enjoy it. This CD is great for anyone who loves to have fun and rock out! If you like bands such as Good Charlotte, Goldfinger or New Found Glory I highly recommend you check these guys out. You won't regret it!

they rock
Mest is an awesome band. I think they live up to what real punk is. Go buy their albums its way worth the money!

FME
Thrice is amazing and If you liked showoff check out chris from showoffs new band Farewell My Enemy at www.farewellmyenemy.com they are really f'n awesome.
Tom

It's Gettin Better!
W-O-W...If this guys keep on makin this kick ass music then our grandsons will kno about them! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

All DHC cd's should have a trillion plus stars next to them!
If your just getting started in the ska scene and are wondering whose good and who isn't or your afraid you'll buy a cd and be let down..trust me on this one...DHC is the best! You will NOT be let down in anyway!! with songs like "Babushska" and "blind leading the blind" you just want to stop your car ( or just stop whatever your doing) and skank! The harmonic voices of Elyse and Karina are amazing!! DHC is truly "Better than anything" :o) Do the smart thing and just buy ALL of their cd's! ( I did and I love each and everyone! I would advise you to see them live..they rock! And if you can't see them live buy the Live album!!)

Horns
For people who like ska music, or great harmonies, or FANTASTIC horn sections, this is the best CD around! The first time i heard this CD i was in my friend's car, and we listened to the whole thing through. The moment I got out of the car, I had to hear it again!

This is the DHC I was looking for . . .
I saw them perform once at a free concert at UC Berkeley (ca. 1994) and they always stood out as being awesome, but I never bought their CDs until recently I got Honey I'm Homely from a thrift store for about 50 cents. It was good, but I was hungry for more so I bought THIS cd and I feel like I struck gold. The overall sound has so much more energy than Homely does and the vocals sound more spontaneous and less formulaic -- same with the guitar and rhythm section. One more thing, The Old Record features a standard SKA horn section which I think is a VERY good thing. I sorely missed that on Homely.

Great First Record, Still My Favorite DHC Album
I was first introduced to DHC many years ago with the vinyl version of this record. Just picked up the CD and it still rules. It's still my favorite DHC record -- probably because it was produced by Lint (aka Tim Armstrong, of Operation Ivy and later Rancid) who knows how to keep things shaking. Definitely check them out live if you can.....

Third Wave Ska at its best
This compilation of the Dance Hall Crashers early work is a great sample of the state of the ska revival of the early nineties. All of the songs are listenable, and some truly standout. My favorites are Keep on Running and My Problem. If you can keep from moving on those two tracks you must be dead. A lot of the material deals with relationships, mostly bad ones, but the upbeat music and dueling vocals will make you forget that this could be just another pop record. The group and their pop/ska/punk sound are definitely different than any other and you will either love or hate this album. ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Five Iron Frenzy ROCKS TO THE INFINITY POWER!
When I first got this cd, i expected FIF's fast paced happy ska with punk music with a lot of humor thrown in. Well, I didnt get what i expected. When i first played it, i was like whoa, with the exception of Reese's high shrills, i could barely tell it was them. After listening to it once, I fell in love with it! I think in this cd the matured a lot, with songs like Hurricane, which is sorta slow paced reggae/ska"I am so lonely, they say you are lonely too, Dear God be my savior, I wait for you", Solidarity, which sounds sorta like latin music with ska with cool rasta vocals by Brad, and Giants which is a very creepy tune critizing Adam Smith and Darwinism (who wouldnt?). And of course, FIF have their silly songs, which would be Phantom Mullet (in case you all dont know what a mullet is, its a hair style-think Billy Ray Cyrus), also, You Dont Want to Move Here makes fun of California and features Val from the W's. World Without End is parallel to FIF's second albums's Every New Day. Very spiritual and inspirtaional. AHHH! I cant explain how much I love this CD! EVERYONE GET IT! FIVE IRON FRENZY IS THE BEST BAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD! CONGRATS BRAD DUNHAM AND MIJON REMMING ON THEIR MARRIAGE! get this cd!

Best 5IF Ever!
I dont believe this! Five Iron Frenzy has made many outrageously funny albums and made many wonderful songs that have a powerful message, but this tops them all. After the slightly humerous "What's Up?" Reese Roper breaks into his "Greatest Story Ever Told" Other notables on this disc are the "Phantom Mullet" a humerous song about bad haircuts. Both "Farenheit" and "Four Fifty One" (Notice the little joke in the two titles) are wonderful songs with a message, Farenheit denouncing homophobia, and 451 calling for more on fire evangelists. You Probably Shouldn't Move Here is a hillarious song dipicting Coloradans as a bunch of rednecks (tongue in cheeck of course). The best song on the CD is a tossup between "Giants" an anti-conglomerate song, and the beautiful "World Without End" (The acapella choral ending and the chiming bells are enough to bring goosebumps to the flesh, tingles to the spine, and tears to the eyes) Both of these songs are so much better than Our Newest Album Ever's "Every New Day" Which I view as their previous best song. Get this album as soon as possible. The kings of Ska-core have done it again

Might have been good as a first attempt
Let me start out with a disclaimer: a lot of people love this album, and, musically it's sound. (no pun intended) FIFs constantly changing style missed me with this album, although "ugly day" was acceptable, it sounded much better on the live album...
If you're a FIF fan you'll like it. If you're not, try Electric Boogaloo or "Our newest album ever" first. (Electric Boogaloo was the best IMO, but i think i'm in the minority on that choice )

Worst FIF album ever
This album came during a very difficult time for Five Iron Frenzy. One of their chief song writers left the group before songs for this album were written, and the various members of the band (all 8 of them) kind of traded off on song writing duties for this album. As a result, it lacks the unity in sound that a lot of their other albums had (Electric Boogaloo has the same failing, but not to the same extent).

This is, in my opinion, the least catchy and least appealing of all FIF albums. I was a hardcore fan before this came out, I bought it on the first day and I remember sitting in the car listening to it on the way home and my girlfriend saying to me "It kind of [bad isn't] it" I hated to agree, but I had to.

For the FIF beginner go for one of their first two albums or the Quantity is Job 1 EP for their finer work. Eventually the FIF faithful talked themselves into liking this one, but without the previous FIF experience, this album will really fall flat for the uninitiated.

The only really stand out track on the album is A New Hope (and possibly Solidarity). Go buy those two songs on ITunes, and you aren't missing much of anything from the rest of the album.

Fun CD
I bought this CD after I heard about FIF from a friend and I am really glad that I did. At first I thought that many of the songs sounded similar, but after a few listens I can now appreciate them all individually. The songs on this CD are fun and are uplifting. I especially enjoy Phantom Mullet, Ugly Day and Greatest Story Ever Told. Five Iron Frenzy is a unique group that should appeal to most people. I recommend this CD to anyone looking for a different type of music that you don't normally hear. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

This is the best LTJ CD!
This is the coolest cd i've ever heard. It has lots of great ska songs ( Time and a Half, Who Holds The Power Ring) and also lots of great punk songs (Lucky Day, F**ked) There is also 3 great cover of the Laverne and Shirley Theme, The Dukes of Hazard Theme, and 867-5309 (Jenny) The harmonics of Chris and Roger are breathtaking!This is a great CD. The best LTJ CD they've made. They say that their new one (Hello Rockview) is much like this one, I hope so. If you have to choose between This, Losing Streak, Pezcore, or Greased...this is the best by far! Less Than Jake are the masters of Ska/Punk!

Good, but not there best
Less than Jake is easily the best ska influenced punk band outthere. What makes them so good is that they can preform high-energy,positive songs with out selling out. This cd, honestly is not one of there best. I own 10 of there cd's so I do know what I'm talking about. I'm not just a casual LTJ fan. While this cd is fun to listen to, it doesn't have the shelf life of "Hello Rockview" or "Losing Streak" This cd is still awesome, just not one of my favorites. Though it is cool because they cover songs such as the theme songs to "Lavern & Shirley" and "The Dukes of Hazard" aswell as a popular 80's song 867-5309. My personal favorite is "St. James Hotel." "Econologed" is a great song too.

The Best Less Than Jake cd!
I am a huge fan of Less Than Jake, and I have all of their cds. At first I didn't like this one as much as Losing Streak, but then it grew on me, and now I think this is their best cd. Most of the the songs are more ska and funky (as said) than punk. It has a couple covers, and I especially like the cover of Jenny/867-5309.

older and better
well i've had this for years (the origional on No Idea records thank you very much) and it still notches up regular spinnage. this is basically a compilation of early 7", 10" and comp tracks if you've heard their later stuff you'll know the basic sound, hi energy tuneful ska punk but here it's free of the glossy sanitized production that all the punk bands get these days. twenty songs and everyone a winner from the originals like "where the hell is mike sinkovich?" and "whipping boy" to the covers "laverne and shirley" and "dukes of hazzard" you'll be singing along and jumping all over the place. in a way i feel sad that they've got so big as their new stuff lacks the same energy and fire and after witnessing them live in front of a couple of thousand folk recently it looks like they're doing it punk by numbers. shame.

My turn to talk about this CD
First off, I would like to discuss this theory I have about bands and their fans. A person hears an album and loves it, and becomes a fan of that band based on the album. When this occurs, often subsequent albums are measured by this first album, and don't measure up in that person's opinion. The first experience of the band's music crystalizes in that person's ears, and while the other albums may be like it, they just aren't the same.

The majority of Less Than Jake fans first heard the band in "Losing Streak", their first major label album. While there are definitely going to be exceptions, I would say that the majority of those here that say that "Losing Streak" is LTJ's best album heard "Losing Streak" before LTJ's other albums.

I too have developed this prejudice; for instance, the first NOFX album I heard was "Punk and Drublic", which is still my favorite despite such other great albums as "Ribbed". Same thing goes for the Bouncing Souls' "The Good, the Bad, and the Argyle", Fishbone's "Truth and Soul", and countless other examples.

There are exceptions, though. While "Losers, Kings..." was my first taste of LTJ, I think that "Hello Rockview" is their best. I think that while "Losing Streak" is a great album, it is also LTJ's worst album of original material.

Now to the review of this album: LTJ at this time, and during "Pezcore" (ca. 1994), were the definition of a ska punk band. Some people may think that this is a tired formula, but at the time, there weren't that many ska punk bands around (Slapstick, Buck O Nine, the Voodoo Glowskulls, Mustard Plug, Jack Kevorkian and the Suicide Machines, and the Pacers are the few others that come to mind). Before that, there were only the Specials and Operation Ivy, and a few ska core contemporaries like the Bosstones and MU-330.

This album is the epitome of ska punk. Fast-paced, raw guitar sounds, and a nice mix of punk and ska riffs, as well as a few straight up punk songs. The vocal harmonies, catchy melodies, and singalong lyrics present in their later albums were there even back then.

If you want to hear what a great ska-core-rock-punk-metal band sounded like when they were a great ska punk band, definitely get this CD. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

bye-bye "pick it up" hello "punk!"
this is by far the best album that the sucicide machines have done. forget the happy little "pick it up" mode on their other cd's, this ones heavier than all their othe albums, and frankly i like it! they have 4 songs that are 53 sec. and under.some of them being 4-5 sec. long. but this album still rules! "hating hate" talks about the worlds problem with hatered, predjudice, and racism and how much it sux. "black and white world" talks about how people will judge another person by the color of their skin and how our society looks down upon those who are of a different race. all of the songs on this cd are battle hymns, hence the title "battle hymns" if your fed up with the way todays society treats you and everyone in it battle hymns would be and excellent cd to pick up to get you pumped up and pi$$ed off. check it out!

Another Masterpiece from the gods of ska/punk
On this album, the Suicide Machines went political, with very positive results in my humble opinion. Most of the songs have very positive, intellgient political lyrics, which is a big plus for any album. On some tracks the Machines keep the sytle that everyone loves from Destruction by Definition. But then they go into fast, hard, balls-out punk rawk. Great stuff, especially when they blend the two different styles. My favorite tracks have got to be Pins and Needles, Someone, Black and White World, and DDT. But they are all great, fun, energetic ska-core songs, signature Suicide Machines. Most ska-punk or ska-core lovers will enjoy this album, as will a lot of political hardcore punks.

Punk+Ska aren't always a good combonation
Don't get me wrong, I mean I like this cd and all. In fact, it's probably one of my favorite Suicide Machines cd. But, I just don't think "ska-punk" is a good combo. Maybe it's just my opinion...Burn it from a friend or borrow/steal it or something. It's not really worth the money.

An in-your-face, angry album, with a positive message.
This album is not for everyone. Each SM CD has been so different from the last, so, this one may not appeal to those who liked the self titled album (I didn't). However, this album exemplifies what punk rock SHOULD be, but isn't. While I may be alone in this, when I hear this CD, I am taken back 15 or so years. While, yes, this disk, has a very political message, it is one that is positive. The message is about unity and breaking down racial walls. Songs like "black and white world" or "hating hate" adequately send this message, and it's loud and clear to these ears.

Skacore! Jah!
I'm mostly a hardcore/metal fan, but this is one of the few punk/ska albums that I like. Its full of catchy rhythms and insightful lyrics. They'll have an upbeat ska rhythm one minute and completely change to a heavy, hardcore section with screaming and everything. 22 tracks, mostly around 1-2 minutes long (except for Punck and Jah) and all of them are a pleasure to listen to. My favorites are "Someone", "Confused" and "Black And White World". Buy this now. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Last one with Mr. Bruce Lee
The band got a call from Dr. Strange Records asking if they'd record some stuff for an EP. The album became an LP with the addition of a few songs. Recorded for under $800, each band member picked a few songs to 'cover' and made that song their own. Devlin, Devo, Gorilla Biscuits (for the hXc fans), Klark Kent, Knackstedt, Bad Brains, Bad Manners and Oingo Boingo are covered on here in a ska-style. Bruce left the band after this to do his own thing. It's cool enough that the album cover is pure green. But, this album really rocks.

Not Their Best....
I got this album not that long ago and i think that it is an o.k album.The first track'Gas In My Car' is amazing and so is the cover of Bad Manners 'Special Brew' it is a covers album with a couple of their own songs but it could of been better....

There are better songs towards the end of the cd
The song Specail Brew is the best song ever. Other songs such as My hair just blow you away with thier musical talent. If you want a real ska love song chose specail brew. It is really a classic

The last CD they made...............It's the best!!!!!!!!!!
This CD is awesome its the last one althuogh it's not all Skankin' Pickle it is cool!!!! Thanks Bruce Lee!!!!

it sux
it su ... Read more

Reviews (25)

MMB and Ska/Punk at its best!
This CD was amazing.It is probably the Bosstones best(besides Let's Face It).

Kinder Words-The opening song and I wouldn't pick any other song on the CD for the opener.With its incredible horn part and great guitar, it's truly an amzing song.

Sad Silence-Good song,I especially liked the ending.

Hell of a Hat-GREAT horn part!Its awesome how they can start soft and gradually explode into horns and screaming in this song.

Pictures to Prove It-This song is ok. Not as good as some other songs on the CD, but still a great addition to the album.

We Should Talk-Awesome song. Great proof that hard rock and horns can still be mixed together and sound great.

A Dollar and A Dream-This song is good, but its overall softness kind of breaks the mood of the rest of the CD.Still pretty good though.

Stand Off-Another great song.The trombone intro is THE COOLEST!!

365 Days-Awesome song that displays Dicky's amazing vocal talents and still has a great horn part.

Toxic Toast-If there were a list of the top 3 snogs on this CD, this song would be on it.Amazing piano and trombone solos.MMB CLASSIC!!!

Bronzing the Garbage-Great song with good vocals and trumpets.

Dogs and Chapains-Incredible song-fast paced and energetic.

Jump Through the Hoops-What better way to end the CD that with an awesome song like this.You'll be whistling this tune forever. It may be the last, but certainly not the least.

Overall, a great CD and I highly recommend it to any punk or ska fan, as it clearly excells in both areas.

one of MMB's best...
the mighty mighty bosstones are w/o a doubt my favorite band, yet i dont think i am biased towards them...this is considered by some to be their best album ever, and while i wouldnt go that far, i will say it is their best LYRICAL album...

for those not familiar w/this band, they are a Boston-based band that plays an eclectic mix of thrash-metal, ska, alt-rock, and reggae...singer Dicky Barrett is best known for his growl, and musically they are well known for sweet horn lines on trombone and sax (played here by Brockenborough, Burton, and Lenear, the second two on sax)...guitarist Nate Albert is one of the more talented in the ska-punk genre...

QUESTION THE ANSWERS starts off in-your-face, w/the pleading "Kinder Words"...listen to the lyrics and its easy to see what the bosstones are saying...its followed up by "Sad Silence" and "Hell of a Hat", songs about a bully who kills a kid and a well-to-do gun-toting man respectively...they both deal w/problems in society..."Pictures to Prove it" starts w/a sick trombone solo, and descrives the feelings of love lost...the next notable song, "Stand Off", another trombone introduced cut, showcases more love lost and partner questioning.."365 Days" talks about all that can change in a year, and "Toxic Toast" one of the best cuts on the album, sees Dicky reminiscing in his lyrics...the last notable song, also the last on the album, is "Jump Through the Hoops", about a guy whos trying to please everyone...

musically, this album plays background to Barrett's vocals, whereas usually the horn players are in the forefront, along w/Alberts axe...still, the 2 trombone solos are great, "Toxic Toast" starts w/a really cool piano solo, and "A Dollar and a Dream" is a breezy, loungy, jazzy almost swing tune...till it kicks in near the end...

anyways, this is another great Bosstone album, but not for those just getting into the band (though, honestly, nearly and MMB cd will do)...if you are a fan of ska, punk, or alt-rock, i suggest you pick up this awesome album, and the rest by MMB! peace

The beginning of the end
This album broke many mainstream listeners to the MMB in 1994. Unfortunately, these younger listners must not of heard the real MMB albums prior, which are much more fun, energetic, and skacore. This album contains overproduced, sappy, depressing songs made for commerical audiences leaving behind the better days of the MMB. All the elements of a band selling out are here: a hit single, a slow ballad (ska style), and a cleaned up polished look for MTV. All of the TANG MMB albums are worth buying with More Noise being my favorite. I can't imagine what type of person would actual enjoy listening to tracks on this album like "pictures to prove it" or "jump thru the hoops" or what the band was thinking when they recorded these slow and uninspiring songs. THis album led many hardcore fans to leave the band as live shows lost thier energy and posers began touting this album as great. What a sham. The best song on this album "dogs and chaplains" is a third time remake of a classic first appearing on Devils Night Out on TANG.

How can anyone hate this?
I've bought only a handful of 'Tones albums. I bought Let's Face It and was only slightly impressed. I bought Pay Attention and was much more pleased. After hearing people say how terrible their old music was, I decided to see for myself. Question the Answers blew me away! I don't know what they were talking about when they said this was aweful.

It begins with an incredible riff in Kinder Words, one of the most catchy songs on the album. Sad Silence follows, and is a bit lighter, but the song changes tone so many times that it's hard to keep track. Next is Hell of a Hat, a favorite amongst internet fans. The song has excellent lyrics and a catchy sub-chorus. Picture to Prove It is next and is a song I usually skip, but is still a quality MMB song. We Should Talk is a psychotic piece about the lost art of communication, and is one of their most fast pased songs. Dollar and a Dream is another various toned song with a really cool casino intro. My personal favorite, Stand Off, is great not only because of the superb lyrics but for the even more superb guitars complete with short stutters weaving in and out of the chorus. Another fast song, 365 Days, is one where Dicky keeps yelling "Three Hundred and Sixty-Five" than moves on before he finishes. It's confusing, but an excellent singing technique. Another excellent song, Toxic Toast, has several saloon piano parts that add an extra bit of greatness to an already great song. Bronzing the Garbage is a moshing favorite and also a very catchy song. Dogs and Chaplains is like a mixture of every good element of the album into a conclusive piece. Jump Through the Hoops is like the P.S. and is a surprisingly cool finish to the album.

Although in the future, the Bosstones calm down their metal-tinged guitars in favor of the horns, this album commemerates their final metal-ska album before transferring into punk-ska territory. The stressed horns pounding out in unison with some creative guitar riffs touched with a precise rhythm section and topped off with Dicky's well thought-out lyrics, is what makes this album so great. Any fan of metal, punk or ska will definately love this album, but it won't appeal to the sappy media-friendly diehards out there. "Sharpest motherf---er in the joint, all other motherf---ers stop and point"

Must Get!
The Bosstones are by far my favorite band, and this CD is by far my favorite. Not only did it get me started with Ska, but it completely changed me. I recommend this CD to anyone. Especially anyone who just wants to hear the Bosstones, or anyone new to Ska. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Excellent Debut Album
The Return of The Aquabats contains good music throughout, never a boring moment and good for all ages. Especially the song, CD Repo Man, it's one of the best songs in all the album.

BlossomBat, Aquacadet extraordinaire
I love this CD... it is really the best ska cd to have been released in a really long time... NOt only does the music rock, but the bats themselves are super rad.. I met most of them at a concert, along with aaron brackett of reel big fish, but anyways umm for the people who like the bats I suggest you visit their cool website... and become an Aquacadet!!!! its very cool.... oh and this cd has all the classics like martain girl, playdough (which is the best song on the album) Cd Repo Man, Tarantula, just a lot of great songs.... The Bats also do the themesong for a new show on cartoon network, but I forgot the name... All in all I highly recomend this cd and every other cd buy this group... They are the greatest Band EVER!!!!...

Fantastic Debut Effort!
As always, The Aquabats have a style unlike any others. They have an excellent sense of humor and don't take themselves too seriously. Their songs themselves are also very catchy.

BE OPEN MINDED AND TRY THIS CD!
This CD is GREAT. A friend of mine, Stevie, suggested this CD, because she told me it was her favorite band. I never even heard of the band before that. NOW It's my new favorite band. It consists of a unique type of music. I can only describe it as, maybe ska, punk, and some comedy. But, really it's neither, because it's better! TRY IT! I GUARANTEE YOU, YOU WILL LOVE IT!

I loved it! This is an awesome addition to my Ska library.
I loved it...you have to love the Aquabat March and Martian Girl. This CD Rocks and everyone should have one in their home...awesome music minus the degrading profanity with an LDS touch give The Return of the Aquabats 5 stars. ... Read more

Reviews (53)

A must buy
The Hippos are one of my favorite bands ever and this cd is a testament why. The Hippos are a very versatile band and although the ska on this cd is awesome I think it's the amazing synth and keyboard parts combined with Ariel's incredible lyrics that really make this cd. Definitely one of the better cd's in my collection though. The Hippos broke up last year which is very depressing but before they broke up they released a final self titled album which is also amazing. This cd has no ska on it whatsoever. In fact only one of the songs even has horns at all. But it has amazing vocals and awesome keyboards...I say go buy both of them.

HIPPOS TAKE IT ALL!
This is one of my favorite CD's in my collection, I Love the way the Hippos compose themselves! I have seen them live and they do sound much better live, but that is just the way that the band is, I feel that this CD is an excelent and accurate example of the Hippos at there best! they are most definatley contenders with Reel Big Fish! The Hippos are becoming more and more popular around the United States! They are going to be the next big band out there, and they will well deserve it with there hard work and excelent talent, they take SKA to the next level, with the addition of the synthosized material!

Also on a final noat, the coversong "Always something there to remind me," was the best remake I have ever heard, I normally dont like the remade songs, but they did an excelent job at it! these guys are good at what they do!

And No one can say they listen to SKA with out owning this album!

Other great band, unheard by millions.
God, The Hippos are amazing and Heads are gonna roll is one of my favorite cd's, right up there with The clash's London Calling and Rancid's Life won't wait. It's a shame they broke up. a lot o' talent. Great cd and great band if you find this cd anywhere I defintely would pick it up. Hail the Hippos!!

Really Good Ska!
I got this CD way after it came out (Sept. 2002) because one of my friends said I would love this if I was into RBF, Mustard Plug, LTJ, etc. He was right, this CD is really amazing. I like the way they sorta stray from the typical ska-punk sound by adding synthesizers. I guess some will say it sucks to throw that in with ska, but the Hippo's do it with skill. I have to say most of the tracks on here are exceptional, catchy, fast paced, fun ska. Lost It is quick and excellent with great opening horns, and a great choice for a beginning song. Something sounds a lot like Lost It, again with standout horns. Their cover of Always Something There to Remind Me is another standout, with hard guitars and vocals, and it's almost as good as Naked Eyes' version. Pollution and Wasting My Life use the synthesizer effect more than some of the other songs, but it fits right in, especially with Wasting My Life which starts out mellow (and electronic) and moves into a ska-punk song. Take a look at Sand, also, and Far Behind. Great CD and great ska here, very solid vocals and horns. Sometime I'll have to actually get the Hippo's first album. It's a bummer that they broke up, but I guess there's supposed to be a new CD sometime...but when?

Incredible cd!
This cd is truly incredible. I first discovered The Hippos when they opened for The Aquabats back in 1999. I went out a couple months later and bought this cd. It's truly incredible. The Hippos manage to progress their music and still hold to their ska roots. Although The Hippos have recently broken up they do still have one last cd coming out this year which I suspect might surpass even this one... ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Very cheap, one of the best Punk-O-Ramas
Punk-o-Rama 3 is a brilliant album. It's a single cd compilation. It has some of the best names in punk on this album, like Pennywise and Rancid. It has 27 songs on it, so you are bound to like a few songs on it, but this isn't a problem actually as 99% of the songs are good, but it does have some really bad ones too. The album is like a taster for all the bands contained on the cd as it is only $4 .99, which I don't think, is bad at all. This album is a good way to see which bands you will like.
This also contains one song that you can't buy anywhere else, for example NOFX's "We threw Gasoline on the fire and now we have stumps for arms and no eyebrows" which is a really good song .

Brilliant Punk Compilation!
This is a well made compilation. Some of the highlights are Nofx-We threw gasoline on the fire and now we have stumps for arms and no eyebrows" and Bad Religon-You. This is a crowning jewel for the ever-growing punk o rama series. It adds a dash of ska with Voodoo Glow Skulls and 1 against 1. With such classic punk bands as Nofx, Pennywise, Ten Foot Pole and Rancid you cannot Fail in buying this CD! A must have for all punk rockers.

One of the better Punkoramas
The punkorama CDs are all worth your money simply because they cost under 5 dollars, if memory serves. (Except for #1, which is full price for some ungodly reason, and #2 which is only a few dollars more, and is worth the money as I think it is the best of all.)
That said, this is one of the better Punkorama comps. NoFX shines in the first track with one of my alltime favorite song-titles (which, I have to say, is not done justice by the song at all): We Put Gasoline on the Fire and Now We Have Stumps For Arms and No Eyebrows. World's on Heroin is a good track. As are Alright, Lozin' Must, and even Everybody's Girl (and I am NOT a Dwarves fan.) As always happens to compilation CD's, this has fallen to the depths of my CD shelves somewhere, but not before introducing me to a few bands I wouldn't have heard of otherwise, which I think is the real reason record companies release these CD's [at the price]: they hope you'll go out and buy full-priced CD's by the same bands and they'll make the money back in spades. (Either that or they don't bother paying royalties to the bands, which I can't back up with any evidence, but is probably also the case.)

Punk at it's best
One of the best cd's ever!!! this is one of my favorite cd's it has songs by all my favorite bands: Pennywise, Bad Religion, and of course, NOFX! If you like punk and want some right now, go out and buy this cd.

hm ....
I don't know if it's just me, but this punk compilations get rather tiresome, after a while. This was my fourth Punk-O-Rama, and all I can say is I don't enjoy it as much as I did my first two. It is though, still a great CD, in that there are a lot of great bands, a lot of great songs, and a lot of tracks. And, on top of that, this CD or number five are probably overall the most punk Punk-O-Rama's. Still though, I've gotten a bit tired of Punk-O-Rama. If you feel the same as I do, check out some of the Hopelessly Devoted to You series -- a very different punk compilation. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Smooth ska for anyone
This 'Tones album has more horn driven songs than any of their other CD in my opinion, and it makes it all that cooler. If you liked Let's Face It this should be your next 'Tones CD, followed by Don't Know How to Party. Dr. D, I'll Drink to That, and He's Back are the coolest ones on the CD so don't miss out.

Before the generic suits. . .
If you love "Let's Face It," but can't help feeling that the 'Tones have sold out just a little . . . if you think the generic suited rudy look just isn't as cool as the good 'ol "Bad in Plaid," . . . if you think that the new CD has a bit too much polish on the vocals and not enough driven growl . . . this is the CD for you. But then again, if you miss the good old Boss Tones, then you probably have this album already. If you are new to these ska-core bad boys, you don't know what you're missingt - "Let's Face It" is catchy, but this is where it's at.

If u don't know who the bosstones are kill yourself now!
I started listening to the bosstones when Let's Face It came out and even though it's an amazing album More Noise and Other Disturbances is the kind of album that you will play again and again and again.Every bosstones full length has it's own sound and this is no exception as all the tracks are catchy but also make you think at the same time.If you've only heard some of their more recent stuff you'll be glad you picked this up. It is a little short but who wants an album thats over an hour long and sucks?There's no bad tracks on this album so get it now!

Perfection
This album is the most perfect Bosstones album, though I liked "Devil's night out" (and need to buy a new copy), it was quite rough. This one, just great. Picture it's fall 1994. You are a loser working in a factory, sitting in your sweet 1993 Candy Apple Red Nissan Sentra, and you make every person that walks by your car hear "Doctor D", and you play that album for every person you take to the fast food joint on break. Resitance is futile!! Ska is better than alt-rock on the radio. You must comply!!! Love the Ska!!Love me!!! Also, if you want to turn somebody onto ska, please play "I'll drink to that" after, well, they have a drink. Frat-boy fun!!

"357 Magnum, 9mm handgun, AK47, and an uzi sub-machine gun"
It is uncharacteristic of me to write a review on an album like this, but I have to, because it's good! This was one of the first and only ska albums I ever had, along with Skankin' Pickle and a handfull of others. "More Noise..." is fantastic. I ended up buying their next couple albums, only to be very dissapointed. This album stands alone, in my mind, as the only good Bosstones album. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

only for the die hards
This album is great, but only if you're a die hard five iron fan. We're talking about 34 tracks of rough, unedited love. The first track, "Kamikaze," is the best as far as serious songs are concerned. At least a dozen of the tracks are only like 10 seconds long, like things that would be similar to "Kitty Doggy". Other tracks included old demos of songs from previous albums. These are rough tracks but that's why I'm telling you should be a die hard fan before you have a listen. One of the awesomest tracks is "Ugly Day" except Dennis does it with alternative lyrics! Total, there's about six songs you've probably never heard, but don't expect much....that's why they're b-sides, people. Don't get me wrong, you'll love this if you've been listening to these guys all through the years. Otherwise, pick up some of their older stuff first. I'd suggest "Quantity is Job 1" or for a good sampling of five iron at their finest go for the live album, "Proof that the Youth are Revolting."

My review of 'THE END IS NEAR'
Well, since i have some spare time on my hands I will write a review of 'the end is near'. For anyone who doesn't know, this is FIF's 8th and final cd. I'm sure people that do not have it yet want a good honest opinion and review of it...so here it is.....Being a hardcore fan of the old FIF sound I was hoping FIF would go back to their roots of ska/punk or find the happy medium between their old and new sound. I popped the cd in my player and was only able to say one thing. WOW!!! Being their last album FIF truly tried to shoot for their best sounding one. It is just that my friends. This is the best FIF album in my opinion. It combines the old sounds and new sounds of five iron perfectly. Songs like 'at least i'm not like all those other old guys', 'so far, so bad', 'wizard needs food, badly' are very old school sounding as of something off of 'our newest album ever'. Songs like 'cannonball', and 'farewell to arms' showcase the fun and serious side of FIF at the same time with fun horn sections and guitar riffs along with serious lyrics. On this album five iron does 2 heavier sounding songs. One is pulled off perfectly and the other is only decent. 'American kryptonite' is an awesome skacore song. It's way better than 'the day we killed' from FIF2:EB. The guitars are really good, the horn section is super awesome and funky, and the bridge is by far the best part. You'll hear what I mean when you get it. 'Anchors away' is the mediocre song and really the only one I didn't love on the album. There's no hardcore screaming and there are horns. You can even skank to the beat but it just doesn't sound like FIF. It's too dark sounding. On songs like 'new years eve', 'it was beautiful', and 'something like laughter' five iron pulls of the ska/rock style of electric boogaloo except it's much better and has lots of horns. More ska-like. The horns just rule on this album. 'See the flames begin to crawl' is one of my favorite tracks. It has a rasta/ska sound going for it. It's very, very awesome. I hope they play it when I see them live mainly because there is an extra awesome horn part towards the end. The last 2 songs are five irons way of ending things. As to not ruin them for you, I will only give you their names. 'That's how the story ends' and 'on distant shores'. As far as describing the genre of music played on 'the end is near' you really can't. To just call it 'rock with horns' is too blase I guess you can say. It's too dynamic to call it that. On the other side of things it's too general to just call it 'ska'. Those 2 styles are combined perfectly to create only what I can call 'ska-core'. Note that is only my opinion. Please don't bash me because you don't agree. I think hardcore old school fif fans will love this album I think as well as the fans of electric boogaloo. This album has the musical maturity of electric boogloo but it's much more light-hearted and goofy like FIF's older cds. All I can suggest is to go order 'the end is near' online at themobilemessage.org or go to a live show and buy it. I wouldn't download it to respect the bands wishes. And you're really missing out because the artwork is absolutely awesome.

Pretty Good..
The highlights of this cd are the first couple tracks, that dog food song, and the five iron frenzy streetpunk style song. lol.. That is such an awsome song.. Anyways, if you are just getting into FIF then pick a different album. This is only a good cd for devoted fans of FIF.

In the Taste of the Listener
I've had no prior experience with FIF, but I still like this album. The first dozen or so songs are mediocre, aside from Mind for Treason, which is a fun Conservative rant, and Kamikaze and Rhubard Pie, which were annoying at first but now are two of my favorites. The short "jokes" are all enjoyable interludes in my playlist. There are other good songs after Mind for Treason, including Screams in the Night and Dog Food. If you revel in oddballfullness, you should enjoy this CD.

FIF, what can ya say?
Well, this CD is filled with FIF's best and worst. The first songs are very good, and if fact the songs that got me HOOKED of Five Iron (eg. Kamikaze) some of them are really quite funny, (like Dog Food, Mayonnaise Taco Monday and MANY others) and some of them you just kinda scratch your head at (like this version of Fist Full of Sand, which is live, they sang it before it was compleatly fineshed, and if you didn't know that it was Fist Full of Sand, you really wouldn't think it was. and also Thea and the Singing Telagram, which I am still trying to figure out) This CD is mostly just for laughs, cuz thats all your going to be doing, cuz thats all I was doing. I greatly like this CD, because when I first heard it, I wasn't looking for poetic leyrics, I was looking for some funny songs to keep me entertained, and I at least wanted to have heard Five Iron before I went to the concert. Well, back from the concert and I'm trying to get my hands on the 6th CD of their's in my collection. I LOVE them. If you have never heard FIF before, I sugest that you don't buy this album, but if you've been a FIF fan for years, you will want to add this to your collection. Thank you to anyone who reads this! I hope the (now) former members of FIF have a great life! ... Read more

Reviews (58)

You can listen to this 24/7 and not get tired of it
Well, FIF has struck gold. Their last album "All The Hype That Money Can Buy," was sad. A low point for the group. But they have returned to the good times with this CD. This one is by far the best yet and I'm not sure they can out do it. Hope they do.
Song/Rating/Thoughts:

1.Pre-Ex-Girlfriend(9)-Good way to start the CD. Probably the 4th or 5th best song on the record.
2.Far, Far Away(9)-The one that Pre-Ex-Girlfriend contends with for 4th best song on the album. Awesome lyrics, very good sound.
3.You Can't Handle This(10)-My personal favorite, and likely the best song on the CD. You can't get tired of the chorus.
4.Farsighted(9)-Good lyrics, good theme. The verses are awesome.
5.Spartan(9)-Interesting theme, but the lyrics are extremely good. The verses are great, the chorus is good, too.
6.The Day We Killed(9.5)-Most politically inspired song, almost Rage Against the Machine. Just no curse words, and not normal for Five Iron Frenzy like it is for RATM. I like this song probably because I like RATM. Plus the lyrics are very good, especially the verse.
7.Juggernaut(9)-I like this song, especially the chorus. It just reverberates in your head after listening to it ONCE.
8.Plan B(9)-The most upbeat song on the album. Probably the funniest, too.
9.Blue Mix(8.5)-I like the music on this song but the lyrics confuse me. Who is Blue Mix? The verses are good but the song leaves something to be desired: to tell us who Blue Mix is or what it is.

10.Vultures(9.5)-Either this or "The Day We Killed" is the 2nd best song on the CD. The verses are about the best on the album, plus they are sorta funny. Also somewhat political.
11.Car(9)-The music on this song is good. The lyrics are emotional and very heart-felt from what I can tell.
12.Eulogy(9)-The lyrics are great on this song, but I'm not sure why it was written. But it is still a great song.

Well, this CD is probably the most mature album that FIF has writtten. Not as many funny songs and there were on "Quanity is Job 1." Definetly their "best album ever."

Great ska/punk album
Definitely very different from Five Iron Frenzy's other cds, they have almost completely abandoned the traditional ska-style guitar riffing in favor of a much heavier sound, sometimes backing of the horns moreso than they have done in the past. It's still a good CD tho, and not as punk as I feared it would be...every track at least has some horns, even if they are mixed low. This is one of my favorite ska CDs and I think the best Five Iron cd, you should give it a try.

1. "Pre-ex Girlfriend" - I think this is one of the best on the album, heavy riffs with a nice upfront horn section and some silly lyrics

2. "Far Far Away" - A nice chorus even though the verse is a little boring, overall some good riffs and a nice trombone solo

3. "You Can't Handle This" - A nice mellow lead guitar riff, but unfortunately the horns are mixed so far down you have to strain your ears just to hear them...other than that a pretty good song tho, even if its more punk/rock than it is ska

4. "Farsighted" - Pretty good song with a nice chorus, not much more to say about it than that

5. "Spartan" - Definitely one of my favorite tracks on the CD, the verse has sortof a pop-punk feel and the chorus is great, I especially like the horns in this song

6. "The Day We Killed" - Despite the very Rage Against the Machine-ish vocals, this is also one of my favorites, a nice hybrid of hardcore and ska with great lyrics and a passionate chorus, too bad the horns weren't turned up a little more

7. "Juggernaut" - Great chorus with my favorite horn part on the CD, but the verse leaves something to be desired...it's still one of the best tracks, even if I dont know what the lyrics mean

8. "Plan B" - The only real ska-ish song on the whole CD, nice lyrics about giving up and plenty of horns to keep you interested, a good break from all the distortion

9. "Blue Mix" - Heavy song with some great riffs, one of the better tracks

10. "Vultures" - Doesn't really seem to stand out as much as the other tracks, some weird vocals on this one

11. "Car" - A great heavy riff and lyrics about Leonor's dead brother make this one of the better songs on the CD

12. "Eulogy" - A bit of a slow way to end the album but another good track

When you want to rock . . .
An Atlanta band called Loudflower released an album in 1997 entitled "Happy Now?" Their label, Gray Dot Records (Third Day), hoped to cash in on the ska-core craze by signing a band with a knack for writing emotive rock and roll backed by a horn section. No ska rhythms, no rockabilly, no new wave comparisons. Just straight-ahead rock in the Americana realm with some horns in the background, just enough to emphasize melody and structure. <br /> <br /> Five Iron Frenzy has never been one to follow a trend. If, as a serious musician, you didn't read any reviews and delayed in purcahsing "Electric Boogaloo" because you thought it might be as annoying as some of the tracks on "All the Hype that Money Can Buy", join the club. If you also feel stupid for having waited so long to buy it, your feelings of self-deprication are understandable. FIF pushed through with a blistering rock album that emotes without being overly emotive, ponders without being self-important, and satisfies the harder rock yearnings of its base of fans.<br /> <br /> I'm not going to give a blow-by-blow of each song. Suffice it to say that this is one of the stronger, tighter records of FIF's career, second only to their magnum opus "The End is Near". The band understands that for one to rock and still sound viable, one must rock steady if they are to rock at all. The dual-guitar techniques of playing alternate lead riffs opposite the other is still in place here, although the arrangements are somewhat more intricate. The horn arrangements threaten to knock the wind out of you, but don't become annoying or overpowering. Unfortunately, unlike Loudflower's knack for making the horn arrangements part of the structure of each song, FIF's horns seem to be more along the lines of countermelodies, filling space left by sustained vocals and spacious chord progressions. <br /> <br /> Since everything here is pretty much full volume, there's not really much room for the band to move around. It's all in your face, hypoglycemic, ADHD-injected music, and it may be best to take it in small bites rather than swallowing everything whole. Add to the that first four songs sound a little tiresome if you listen to them back to back, as vocalist Reese Roper's vocals are set within the same high range for a significant amount of time. While effective in the songs themselves, combining all of them together can grate on the unassuming ear. Probably the biggest reason why I'm rating this 4 stars instead of 5. <br /> <br /> Otherwise, a major kick-butt album. Buy it now before Christ returns and it's too late.

Not the same as their earlier CDs... but rocks all the same!
If you're looking for ska, then don't look here. True, the horns and lyrics and amazing musical talent of FIF is still in this CD, but it is much, MUCH more rock based then ska. Only number 8, Plan B, sounds at all like their earlier songs. So, if you only want ska, go for an earlier FIF album, but if you want a little more of a "rock-with-horns" feel, then this album rules.

My favorite songs are numbers 2,3,5,9,12; and the only song (the only FIF song so far) that I don't like is number 11, Car.

2. Far, Far Away. This is based on an old song that Reese's mom used to sing to him. This song is seriously awesome. There are biblical references in it alot, and the lyrics are good, but what just blows me away about it is the blending of the music. My favorite part is the second verse where the rythym guitar really kicks in and there are some keyboards. "And Peter was a liar, a traitor just like me. And Judas was a hypocrit, and Paul a Pharisee. When truth can be so distant, and hope evades our reach, Peter swam across the water and found it on the beach."

3. You Can't Handle This. This is an empowerment song to anybody who has ever considered themself to be in anyway a nerd. Just listen to it and you will know what I mean. This is typical Reese Roper lyrics all the way. "And Leonard Nemoy can't stand up to this. And Captain James T. Kirk bows beneath my fist. And I am awesome. Awesome! I am the AWESOMEST!"

5. Spartan. The feelings evoked by this song are best summed up by a quote from my brother: "Man, if I was atheist, that song would make me Christian." Words don't do it justice. This is by far my favorite song on the album. "Jesus, save me, from myself tonight."

9. Blue Mix. This song is a knock on the recording industry, and how it has become all about money. It's a good song, much more on the harder, more rock type sound that pervades this album. The guitar parts are very coo, and there is an awesome bridge near the end of the song with a guitar/drum solo that I love. "Sure you say one thing but your actions tell the truth on you!"

12. Eulogy. There is some speculation as to what this song is about, but I personally think it is a tribute to all those who died at Pearl Harbor. It's a good song, kind of like a history lesson mixed with a prayer. A great way to end the CD. "If Jesus Christ is true, then I am mostly lies. If Jesus Christ is love, then I have failed to try. If Jesus Christ is life, then please just let me die. Let this die!"

All in all, a wonderful CD. All the songs are good, just be warned that this is a pretty new sound for FIF before you buy. But I like it just as much as the old FIF sound. Best of both worlds! And if you like this CD, definitely check out their 2-disc final album, The End is Here, available April 20, 2004.

Great Album, Possibly their best!
Ok, this cd is probably better then the others, but I still haven't decieded. I like it better because FIF is more core and less punk in this one. They keep the brass, which is good, but add more core guitar. The lyrics are the best if you are looking for "maturity" but I would say, for making the best piont their first album is better. This cd is also "darker" if you will, which for me any way is better.

But I would probably say, their last concert live album might turn out to be best. By the way, I was there. heh.

DJ Fantom. ... Read more

Reviews (100)

A good CD with a few exceptions but it's worth your money
"Hang-Ups" is a very good CD. They are are very diverse on this album starting out with "Superman" which sounds just like the Mighty Mighty Bossontes, then "My Head" which is harder with no horns, "If Only" is the best is one of the best songs on the CD and is a little on the softer side. Then Goldfinger picks up their ska influence on "This Lonely Place" and "20-Cent Goodbye." "Question" sounds just like Less Than Jake and is more of a ska-punk song. Then the CD kinda goes downhill for a while with dumb songs like "Carlita," "Too Late," and "I Need to Know," but "Authority" helps pull it out of that rut. On "S.M.P." Goldfinger sounds exactly like the Beastie Boys with a song that lasts like 30 seconds (I don't really like the Beastie Boys but this song is cool). "The Last Time" is also one of the best songs on the CD picking up the ska sounds. "Chris Cayton" is Goldfinger's best song ever and it also kinda sounds like Less Than Jake. There is also a hidden track called "It Isn't Just Me" and that sort of sounds like the softer Foo Fighters songs. So, this CD is very good with only 3 exceptions but the better songs more than make up for it so I highly recommend "Hang-Ups."

Best Goldfinger CD Ever (So far . . .)
Hang Ups represents the Ska side of Goldfinger. Stomping Ground (Their Third Album) represents their more punk rock stuff without horns. Their first CD (Self-Titled) is sort of a mix of both. I'm getting off subject . . . here's my review.

SUPERMAN 5/5: This is the song that got me in to Goldfinger. It's featured in the first Tony Hawk Pro Skater video game, that's where I first heard it. This is the best ska song ever. I mean it. Everything is great and it's super catchy. It is second only to Mable, Goldfinger's best song. MY HEAD 4/5: Another great song, but it doesn't have any horns, which isn't a problem. It's a really cool song. IF ONLY 5/5: This song rules. It's got awsome lyrics and it's really catchy. THIS LONELY PLACE 4.5/5: This is a really good song. The first Chorus is soft, but by the end the Chorus is gets loud and it's really cool. 20¢ GOODBYE 4.5/5: Another cool Ska song. The only problem is that it's barely 2 minutes long. If only it were a bit longer . . . QUESTION 4/5: This is a rock song, more like the ones on Stomping Ground, it's really cool. At the end he starts sounding like guy from the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. It's cool. DISORDER 4/5: Another non-ska song. It's got a catchy tune to it. CARLITA 5/5: This is an awsome ska song. I can't ever get the beginning (Well after today, I'll never see you, and you'll be left with your life) out of my head. TOO LATE 3.5/5: This is probably my least favorite songs on the CD. It doesn't seem as good a other songs on Hang Ups. I KNEED TO KNOW 4/5: The song is okay. It's just not that catchy. AUTHORITY 5/5: This isn't one of their ska songs. It's really cool. The chorus is super-catchy. S.M.P 4/5: This is a short screaming punk song. It's pretty funny. S.M.P. stands for "Skiers Must Perish" Don't ask. THE LAST TIME 5/5: This is another one of my favorites. It's a cool song that seems part ska, part punk. CHRIS CAYTON 5/5: This is a really catchy ska song. They swear a bit to much in it though. SECRET TRACKS: IT ISN'T JUST ME 5/5: This song is slow, but I really like it. CHICKEN MCNUGGETS 5/5: This song is so funny. The lyrics are "Chicken McNuggets are bad for you!, bad for you! Chicken McNuggets are bad for you!, bad for you! But they taste good!" It's hilarious.

Wooo! Yeah, that's all for my Hang Ups review. Yeah, Umm... Goldfinger Rules!

Just Awesome!
This is the album that made Goldfinger my all-time favorite band. This album has great lyrics, good music, and the best part is you can tell they are passionate about their music, not about the green in their pockets. If you like any Punk/Ska music, this album is for you. Even if you just got this album for Superman, I would have to say that Superman alone is worth the money, because next to maybe All My Best Friends Are Metal Heads by Less Than Jake, this is THE best Ska song ever. That's right, ever. If you still aren't looking for your Master Card, then here is the playlist
[1] Superman (7/5)- Kicks the CD off with a bang, awesome song. If you like Punk/Ska music, you cannot die until you hear this song. End of story.
[2] My Head- (4/5)- Another great song on the album. A little harder than Superman, but still great.
[3] If Only- (5/5)- Great Punk Ballad. Starts out slow and woeful, but kicks it up a notch in the middle, classic Goldfinger-style.
[4] This Lonely Place (4/5)- The intro is a little weird, but still good. Nice Ska ballad, easy listener.
[5] 20¢ Goodbye (3.5/5)- Decent Ska song, but there is just something about it that I just can't get into it. Great Brass (horns) section though.
[6] Question (5/5)- One of my personal favorites on the album, kind of reminds you of the later Stomping Ground or Open Your Eyes. Is a little profane though.
[7] Disorder (4/5)- Cool little guitar solo in the beginning, very good poppy kind of song.
[8] Calita (4/5)- This, my friends is what people define Ska. Pure ska. Great brass section, and killer Tenor Sax at the end.
[9] Too Late (5/5)- Another favorite on the album, but unlike tradition tells us, this song starts out hardcore and ends Ska. Still extremely great lyrics, good song.
[10] I Need To Know I Love the guitar/bass solo in the beginning! Jon Feldmann shows great vocalism in the throughout the song.
[11] Authority [4/5]- An above mediocre song that always seems to get stuck in my head.
[12] S.M.P (Skiers Must Parish) [4/5]- Quick song about snowboarders and their dislike of skiers. Actually kind of funny.
[13] The Last Time [3/5]- Probably the worst song on the album, but is still not that bad. Again another song that constantly gets stuck in my head.
[14] Chris Cayton [5/5]- Second only to Superman on the album, I have no clue why they didn't try to get some airplay on this song as it is chart topping quality.
[14 A] It Isn't Just Me [4/5]-Melody that shows John's softer side, pretty good song.
[14 B] Chicken McNuggets [4/5]- Quick blast of pure jamming. Not exactly lyrically great, but is still pretty funny. There are conversations with the band, and also at the very end, a concert announcement.

No Good. Get their others first.
The worst goldfinger album in my opinion. Maybe it's because i just don't like ska so much, but that doesn't change the fact that i dont even like the more punk songs on here. Superman is the only song here i would rate in goldfinger's 20 best songs. Any other goldfinger album is good, just steer away from this until you become a fan of the other ones first.

what can i day
Goldfinger is just a feel good band, they sound a lot like less than jake and reel big fish, but they are soo good, superman is a great song on the cd. go now and buy this gem ... Read more